One of my Austras picked a contact out of my eye. Didn't hurt at all. She didn't eat it, I disinfected it and put it back in the next day. I keep a little more distance when holding them now.
You don't need to block off the nesting boxes unless they start hanging out in them. My 6 week old chicks went right to the roost which is higher than the nests.
I started with straw in the bottom of my coop, but switched to pine chips. Much easier to maintain in my opinion. HTH.
funny you mention securing the light, I made a special trip out to put a screw in it after three visions of burning straw.
I have a larger vent on the man door side, I closed the Eves in with small pieces of plywood keep critters out and putting in 1/2 x 1/2 mesh today while the girls play in...
Wish you were MY neighbor. I could be your gopher ...... And have Miller lite, wine and cobbler while scratching behind your dogs ears and watching your wife do chores. GOOD BLESS AMERICA.
You should be writing books.
We have just over 7 acres with a garden and chickens, been thinking about fattening a steer like or family did when I was a kid, but I'm afraid I would get attached to the darn thing and not be able to eat it. Didn't bother me back then, but the older I get the softer I get I suppose.
Last night was the first night out in their new coop. I haven't picked up any pine shavings yet so I bedded them with about 4" of straw put the heat lamp in, we are in Missouri and it hit 40 deg. Last night. When I checked on then at 10pm they were all under the light, went out early this...